Amateur radio use is strictly prohibited aboard Oceanwide Expeditions vessels due to potential interference with critical emergency and communication systems. Under specific conditions, amateur radio may be used on shore with prior approval from the Master of the vessel and the Expedition Leader, these being:

• The radio is used on a non-interference basis
• The radio user holds the appropriate permit from the relevant governmental agency to operate the radio within the applicable jurisdiction. Many regions and countries visited by Oceanwide Expeditions have provisions for this, and the information is accessible on government websites. This permit must be produced to the Master and Expedition Leader, and sent to the Oceanwide Expeditions head office
• The Expedition Leader will decide the facilitation of equipment ashore, and it should have no adverse effect on the vessel program or other guests
• Users should have an operator’s license for the type of radio used, issued by their home country

The Oceanwide Expeditions’ head office must also be notified in advance of any plans to use amateur radio. The transceiver must operate only in low-power mode and will be limited to a maximum of 5 watts. Primary operating mode must be CW, i.e., Morse code. In the absence of a Morse transmission and in between signs, there will be no radiation. Radiation during transmission must be lower than 10 W EIRP. Planned operation shall be restricted to the amateur radio bands (7 MHz, 14 MHz, 21 MHz, depending on propagation).

These amateur radio bands are far away from the shortwave maritime radio bands, AIS, Inmarsat, and Iridium frequencies. Should any interference with vessel or shore operations occur, transmissions must immediately cease.